UnDocked: The Maritime Transformation Show

Raal Harris and Nick Chubb

Undocked is a weekly podcast where Nick Chubb and Raal Harris explore what’s changing in maritime and technology. Through candid conversations and guest interviews, the show unpacks emerging trends, overlooked stories, and strategic insights, offering a fresh, unfiltered perspective on the evolving future of one of the world’s oldest industries.

  1. vor 5 Tagen

    The Battle for Shipbuilding Capacity and Private Equity Targets Vessel Operations

    Nick and Raal explore shipbuilding’s geopolitical revival, friendshoring, autonomous vessel insurance, and the risks of an overheated global orderbook cycle ahead for shipping. They also examine how seafarers are already using AI beyond formal governance, why MF Shipping’s people-first digital strategy stands out, and what maritime technology consolidation means for operators. CHAPTERS 00:44 The human element of maritime AI 04:03 Treating AI like a new employee 06:33 Seafarers, shadow AI and governance 13:55 MF Shipping’s people-first digital strategy 17:43 Transparent KPIs and operational priorities 27:50 Why most AI projects show no measurable return 32:39 Agentic AI at the Digital Ship Summit 35:17 A decade of maritime technology consolidation 40:19 Insurance pathways for autonomous vessels 46:45 A seven-billion-dollar week in shipbuilding 50:06 China’s dominance of the global orderbook 53:16 National shipbuilding strategies and friendshoring 55:39 AI-enabled shipyards and software-driven vessels 57:38 The risk of renewed vessel oversupply The episode opens with Raal’s reflections from a maritime roundtable on AI and the human element. Seafarers are already using consumer AI tools for spreadsheets, emails, administrative work and personal support, often beyond the visibility of company policies.  MF Shipping offers a more deliberate model. After surveying around 900 seafarers, the company is shaping its digital strategy around simpler workflows, reduced administrative burden and better operational decisions. Its public KPIs also challenge the industry to measure digital success by its effect on people, rather than the number of systems deployed. Nick and Raal then examine the accelerating consolidation of maritime technology, including private equity interest in vessel operations, autonomy, cybersecurity and safety. Broader platforms may simplify fragmented technology stacks, but they also raise questions about integration, competition and control of maritime data. The episode closes with shipbuilding’s return as a geopolitical concern. New investments in India, Bangladesh and the United States sit against China’s dominant share of global orders. Governments are responding with industrial policy, allied shipbuilding partnerships and friendshoring, while Korean and Chinese yards develop AI-enabled design and production systems. The strategic race is intensifying just as the global orderbook approaches another potential cycle of oversupply. EPISODE PARTNER This episode of UnDocked is brought to you by Insight Enterprises. Every vessel runs its own mix of devices, software and support arrangements. Without a common view across the fleet, a small IT issue on one ship can turn into a major operational problem across all of them. When the cruise ship Aroya was in refit, Insight tracked and deployed over 650 devices and 2,000 Wi-Fi access points on a single vessel — a day-in-the-life view of what's possible when every device on board sits on one architecture. Insight's Ship-to-Shore IT Asset Management brings that same standardised architecture to your whole fleet, so shore teams get real visibility, digital assets are managed consistently, and vessels stay connected to shore instead of running blind. Because better visibility leads to better decisions, made sooner. Simplify your fleet IT with Insight and SmartSea.

  2. 16. Juli

    Freedom of Navigation Under Fire, China's Unexpected Green Push, and Trusting AI at Sea

    Freedom of navigation comes under renewed pressure as proposals to charge for transit through the Strait of Hormuz raise profound questions about international maritime law. The conversation then turns to China's accelerating maritime decarbonisation strategy before exploring how AI is reshaping shipping, and why its biggest challenge may be governance rather than capability. CHAPTERS 00:00 Freedom of navigation under pressure05:04 Why charging for the Strait of Hormuz matters08:12 China's accelerating electric shipping strategy12:20 Smart ships, autonomy and China's maritime infrastructure17:02 AI, geopolitics and competing development models21:14 AI ends shipping's copy-and-paste era25:03 Why maritime software is beginning to look the same32:22 Emergence World and AI societies39:44 Explainable AI and the human element44:36 Shipping's next digital bottleneck50:08 A lesson from computer-based training This week begins with the deteriorating security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, following renewed attacks on merchant shipping and proposals to introduce charges for transiting one of the world's most important waterways. Nick and Raal examine what this could mean for the long-standing principle of freedom of navigation, and why weakening that norm would have consequences far beyond the Middle East. The discussion then shifts to China, where rapid investment in electric vessels, autonomous shipping and digital maritime infrastructure paints a more nuanced picture of the country's decarbonisation strategy than many in the West assume. Rather than simply replacing one fuel with another, China appears to be redesigning parts of the maritime system around new technologies and long-term industrial planning. From there, the conversation moves into artificial intelligence. Recent consolidation across maritime software providers prompts a discussion about whether competitive advantage will come from owning proprietary data or building the best interfaces to it. As AI increasingly becomes the layer connecting multiple systems, attention turns to the quality of underlying data, explainability and the limits of automation. Finally, an extraordinary AI experiment, where different frontier models were allowed to govern virtual societies, provides a springboard into a wider debate about AI behaviour, accountability and what safe deployment should look like in highly regulated industries such as shipping.  EPISODE PARTNER This episode of UnDocked is brought to you by IEC Telecom. Connectivity today goes far beyond a single service. IEC Telecom delivers a fully integrated ecosystem for modern maritime operations, combining multi-orbit connectivity, cybersecurity, network management and crew welfare into one platform. Learn more at https://iec-telecom.com

  3. 9. Juli

    Compliance Over Competence, Human APIs, and Cognitive Load

    This week, Nick and Raal explore two new research reports examining the gap between maritime systems as they're designed and how they're actually used at sea. They discuss cognitive overload on modern bridges, alarm fatigue, shortcomings in competence-based training, and why culture, leadership, and teamwork matter far more than compliance alone. CHAPTERS 00:24 CEO departures continue across container shipping02:37 New research into human factors and operational reality05:06 Why interviews often reveal more than surveys16:39 Alarm fatigue, cognitive overload, and the modern bridge20:23 Digitalisation, distraction, and unintended consequences25:08 Fatigue, simulation, and operational decision-making34:03 What competence really means at sea42:07 Why compliance training can create capability gaps44:41 Leadership, culture, and why every ship is different52:29 AI update: Fable returns53:16 Holiday sign-off The episode opens with another round of senior leadership changes across container shipping before turning to two new research reports examining one of maritime's most persistent problems: the gap between how systems are designed and how ships actually operate. Nick shares findings from primary research with serving seafarers, masters and fleet managers, revealing how disconnected bridge systems increasingly rely on humans to act as the interface between technologies. The discussion explores cognitive overload, alarm fatigue and why bridge teams are often managing software rather than navigation during periods of highest risk. The conversation then shifts to competence. The research suggests today's compliance-focused training is increasingly detached from operational reality, with situational awareness, decision-making under pressure and teamwork emerging as the industry's biggest capability gaps. Nick and Raal argue that leadership, culture and effective familiarisation have a greater influence on operational performance than certificates alone. Read the Thetius report here: https://thetius.com/competent-or-compliant-seafarer-readiness-in-modern-maritime-operations/ EPISODE PARTNER This episode of UnDocked is brought to you by KVH. From commercial shipping to offshore and government fleets, KVH enables consistent, high-performance connectivity across every environment. Their integrated approach means hardware, airtime, and network management all work together seamlessly. Learn more at kvh.com

  4. 2. Juli

    $600 Ship Data Collection, Digital Literacy, and Preventive Healthcare

    Nick and Raal discuss leadership change at Hafnia, falling costs for onboard vessel data collection, the continuing debate over software ecosystems versus single platforms, digital literacy and STCW reform, AI governance after Anthropic’s Fable withdrawal, and why preventative healthcare could reshape medical screening for seafarers and maritime professionals. CHAPTERS 00:52 Michael Skov steps down as Hafnia CEO03:27 Episode Partner: GTT Marine04:12 A $600 shipboard data logger changes the economics of vessel data07:25 Edge computing, bandwidth and why raw data isn't the answer10:05 Best-of-breed software versus the single platform vision13:15 Why maritime technology moves in cycles of convergence and divergence16:25 Software procurement, organisational silos and buying decisions22:20 Nick's Neko Health scan and the future of preventative medicine27:45 Could advanced health screening become standard before going to sea?30:33 Digital literacy: shipping's overlooked transformation challenge34:25 Data literacy, statistics and why dashboards can mislead38:35 Compliance versus competence in maritime training42:15 STCW reform and preparing seafarers for technologies that don't yet exist47:55 Anthropic's Fable model and the AI capability leap53:20 AI infrastructure, government intervention and vendor dependence This week Nick and Raal begin by reflecting on Michael Skov's departure as CEO of Hafnia after sixteen years leading the company from startup to the world's largest chemical tanker operator. They discuss the leadership lessons behind that journey before turning to one of the more significant technology developments of recent weeks: dramatically cheaper onboard data logging that could make high-frequency vessel performance data accessible across a much larger share of the global fleet. The conversation then returns to one of shipping's enduring technology debates—whether owners should pursue integrated software platforms or assemble best-in-class ecosystems connected through APIs. Drawing on recent industry commentary, they explore vendor lock-in, procurement strategy, organisational silos and why AI may make interoperability easier than ever. Nick also shares a firsthand experience with an AI-enabled preventative health assessment, prompting a wider discussion about the future of seafarer medical screening, preventative healthcare and whether technologies of this kind could eventually reshape the ENG1 process. Finally, the discussion turns to digital literacy, data literacy and the ongoing revision of STCW. The hosts examine why technology adoption remains fundamentally a people challenge, why understanding data is becoming as important as using software, and what the industry's latest research reveals about the growing gap between formal training and operational reality at sea. They close by exploring the brief release—and rapid withdrawal—of Anthropic's Fable model, considering what it means for AI governance, cybersecurity and the future of critical digital infrastructure. EPISODE PARTNER  This episode of Undocked is brought to you by GTT Marine. Download The Great Integration, the latest report from Danialk and Thetius, exploring how fragmented technology systems affect decision-making across shipping, and what owners can do about it. Learn more at https://gttmarine.fr.

  5. 25. Juni

    Adaptive Learning and the Death of the Manager: UnDocked Live from Bergen

    Nick and Raal mark Undocked’s first live episode from Bergen with two competing visions for AI in maritime: scalable human expertise and the decline of middle management. The discussion explores performance data, adaptive learning, digital twins, shipboard roles, and why technical judgement may matter more as AI becomes operationally embedded. Chapters00:28 Norway anniversary and the Bergen live episode02:02 Preparing for a 20-minute live Undocked05:10 AI, workforce needs, and the human factor06:15 Live Undocked begins at BISC07:34 Raal’s idea: scaling human capital08:00 Arm farms, observation, and performance data10:58 Training, adaptive learning, and needs analysis13:35 Digital twins and transferable expertise15:04 Nick’s idea: the death of the manager16:20 AI-led organisations and the changing middle layer20:01 Meat layer, execution work, and maritime application22:43 Technical expertise and Gell-Mann amnesia24:56 Debriefing the live session29:04 Why shipping follows other sectors31:08 Prototyping adaptive learning32:55 Reflections on live formats and future eventsEpisode ShownotesThis episode begins in Bergen, where Nick and Raal revisit Undocked’s Norwegian origin story and reflect on the challenge of taking an intentionally loose, edited podcast format onto a live conference stage. The brief from the Bergen International Shipping Conference was simple but unforgiving: twenty minutes, two big ideas, and no room for the usual rambling. The live discussion centres on AI and the maritime workforce. Raal argues that AI will not simply replace human capital, but make expertise more observable, transferable and scalable. Starting from the unsettling image of an “arm farm”, he reframes machine observation as a possible route to better performance data, sharper training needs analysis and adaptive learning pathways built around the individual rather than rank-based progression. Nick takes the more provocative line, imagining a future in which AI moves from helpful assistant to organisational operator, leaving humans to provide execution, accountability, governance and trust. His “death of the manager” thesis asks what happens when AI becomes better at measuring performance, turning strategy into plans and monitoring outcomes than the human middle layer currently doing much of that work. The conversation closes on the maritime consequences: shipboard roles, the risk of further gigification, the enduring need for technical work, and the importance of knowing when AI is wrong. In a safety-critical industry, the episode lands on a pragmatic tension: AI may remove some layers of work, but it will also raise the premium on judgement, challenge and domain expertise. Episode PartnerThis episode of Undocked is brought to you by IEC Telecom. IEC Telecom delivers integrated multi-orbit connectivity for maritime and offshore operations, bringing LEO and GEO networks together into reliable, flexible systems for vessels at sea. Learn more at iec-telecom.com

  6. 18. Juni

    The End of Easy Globalisation: Bergen Maps the New Maritime Order

    Nick and Raal report from Bergen after Undocked’s first live stage appearance, capturing interviews with Michael Beckley, Sabrina Chao, Andreas Enger, Julian Bray, Pia Melling and Göran Persson. Across geopolitics, China, ammonia, ship management, market cycles and climate, the episode asks how shipping shifts from efficiency to resilience. Chapters00:42 — Welcome back from Bergen 01:38 — Setting the scene: Maritime Bergen and Undocked Live 03:15 — Why geopolitics dominated the agenda 04:23 — Michael Beckley on shipping, security and great power tension 07:44 — The three tailwinds turning into headwinds 09:23 — AI, productivity and the limits of comparison 11:35 — Decarbonisation, energy security and global rules 16:38 — Raal and Nick reflect on resilience over efficiency 19:14 — Sabrina Chao on China, Norway and maritime collaboration 23:03 — China’s green transition and the need for regulatory certainty 26:53 — Shipping as a model for global cooperation 29:17 — Nick and Raal unpack China’s maritime position 31:15 — Andreas Enger on China, ammonia and shipbuilding capacity 38:04 — Chinese dominance in shipbuilding and the risks of disengagement 40:27 — Höegh Autoliners’ ammonia-ready future 42:20 — One hundred years of adaptation at Höegh 47:19 — Leadership, transformation and making the right decisions 56:18 — Julian Bray on risk, cash and market cycles 1:00:17 — Why this is not quite 2008 again 1:03:25 — Pia Melling on ship management, services and adaptability 1:07:33 — Why more owners are outsourcing specialist services 1:10:03 — Energy-saving technologies and practical decarbonisation 1:12:19 — AI, learning and changing work at sea and ashore 1:17:02 — Göran Persson on global institutions and shipping’s role 1:20:15 — Making shipping visible through green leadership 1:21:43 — Final reflections: avoiding groupthink and widening perspectives ShownotesThis special episode comes from Bergen, where Nick and Raal recorded quick-fire conversations with speakers from Maritime Bergen. Michael Beckley sets the geopolitical frame: the tailwinds of globalisation, demographics and industrial productivity are weakening, pushing shipping to think more about resilience than efficiency. Sabrina Chao brings a Chinese perspective on collaboration, regulatory certainty and decarbonisation, while Andreas Enger grounds the China discussion in ammonia, shipbuilding capacity and Höegh Autoliners’ long-cycle approach to transformation. Julian Bray looks at market risk and why today’s stronger balance sheets make this cycle different from 2008. Pia Melling explains how ship management is evolving as owners seek scale, specialist services and practical support with energy efficiency, crew welfare and AI. Finally, former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson argues that shipping must become more visible by leading on green transport, investment and innovation. Together, the episode captures an industry adapting to a more fragmented world while trying to keep sight of long-term transformation. Partner messageConnectivity shouldn’t mean more complexity. IEC Telecom’s OptiView gives maritime teams complete visibility and control over onboard networks, helping manage bandwidth, prioritise critical applications and optimise fleet performance from one intuitive interface. No guesswork, no wasted bandwidth — just smarter network management. Click here to check out Optiview.

  7. 11. Juni

    What's the difference between R&D and Innovation? Lomar Labs has the answer

    Stylianos Papageorgiou of Lomar Labs joins Nick and Raal to explain how a ship owner can help maritime startups move from promising prototypes to usable technology. The conversation covers the Compass programme, onboard testing, energy transition, autonomous systems, seafarer engagement, and why innovation only matters when it solves operational problems. Chapters00:27 Introduction to Stylianos Papageorgiou and Lomar Labs01:24 Lomar’s 50-year history and appetite for change02:42 Episode partner: GTT Marine03:21 Why Lomar built its own venture lab09:35 Using a changing fleet as a testbed11:34 How Lomar Labs works with startups14:08 Choosing problems worth solving16:14 Building the Compass programme17:56 R&D, innovation, and procurement20:38 The three pillars: technical risk, commercial readiness, and funding25:40 Portfolio focus: future of work, energy, and emissions29:47 Testing technology on ships without overwhelming operations31:09 Seafarer feedback and onboard experimentation33:41 What makes a startup worth backing37:22 Commercialisation, pricing, and market realities39:15 Regulation, timing, and the energy transition46:46 Future of work at sea49:45 Autonomous navigation and alarm overload51:10 Signal Fusion, behavioural data, and human judgement53:27 Automated audit trails and the limits of measurement54:01 The long-term vision for Lomar Labs55:56 How shipping can better support innovation58:23 How startups and shipping companies can reach Lomar Labs This episode begins with Stylianos Papageorgiou, managing director of Lomar Labs, drawing a sharp line between R&D and innovation: one creates knowledge, the other turns it into viable businesses. It is a useful distinction for shipping, where promising technology often struggles to survive contact with operational reality. Nick and Raal explore why Lomar built its own venture lab rather than joining an accelerator or investing through a fund. Stylianos explains how the Compass programme gives startups structured access to ships, crews, class, flag, and commercial feedback — without demanding exclusivity, discounted first units, or shared IP. The conversation moves from model to mechanics: technical de-risking, commercial readiness, funding pathways, and the floating laboratory Lomar uses to test modular technology onboard without disrupting day-to-day operations. There is also a clear focus on seafarers, who are not treated as passive subjects of innovation but as critical users whose feedback can shape whether a product works. The episode closes on regulation, energy transition, autonomous systems, and founder discipline. Stylianos argues that startups should solve problems shipping genuinely values, not simply wait for regulation to force adoption. For shipowners, the lesson is equally pragmatic: innovation needs managed risk, real assets, and enough patience to let useful ideas mature. Episode PartnerThis episode of Undocked is brought to you by GTT Marine. The Great Integration, a new report from Danalec and Thetius, looks at how fragmented systems are eroding decision quality across shipping — and what owners can do about it. Learn more at gttmarine.fr.

  8. 4. Juni

    Posidonia, AI Hype and the Technologies Shipping Is Actually Buying

    This week,  Raal and Nick catch up as Posidonia 2026 gets into full swing. With Nick reporting live from Athens and Raal experiencing Posidonia FOMO from afar, the conversation explores what’s really happening beneath the headlines. From the explosion of AI messaging across the exhibition floor to the technologies that are quietly moving from concept to commercial reality, this episode separates hype from substance. They discuss why governance is becoming the defining challenge for AI adoption, how simulation technology is reaching new levels of realism, why condition-based maintenance may finally be having its moment, and what recent industry deals tell us about the future direction of maritime software. Along the way, they examine why alternative fuels seem to have disappeared from centre stage and what has replaced them as shipping's immediate priority. Chapters 00:00 Live from Posidonia: Raal's missing, Nick's roaming 02:00 AI everywhere: genuine innovation or marketing necessity? 05:00 What separates serious AI solutions from AI wrappers 09:00 From ideas to products: when does innovation become commercial reality? 12:00 Why shipping only solves problems when they become unavoidable 14:00 Hot or Not: the technologies dominating Posidonia 2026 17:00 Alternative fuels are out. Vessel performance is in. 18:00 Simulation technology is getting frighteningly realistic 23:00 Why great simulations don't always need great technology 26:00 AI governance moves from theory to business priority 28:00 Kaiko's acquisition and what it says about maritime software consolidation 38:00 Condition-based maintenance may finally be ready for prime time 41:00 Why inspections are becoming valuable data sources 44:00 Looking ahead to Bergen Shipping Conference This episode is brought to you by KVH. Delivering resilient connectivity, data, and insights to keep maritime operations connected, informed, and moving, wherever you are. Learn more at kvh.com.

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Undocked is a weekly podcast where Nick Chubb and Raal Harris explore what’s changing in maritime and technology. Through candid conversations and guest interviews, the show unpacks emerging trends, overlooked stories, and strategic insights, offering a fresh, unfiltered perspective on the evolving future of one of the world’s oldest industries.

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